The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61552

Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, PhD, National Center on Women and Aging, Brandeis University, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454, 781-736-3943, vcrosado@brandeis.edu, John A Capitman, PhD, Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandies University, MS 035, 415 South Street, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, and Sarita Malik Bhalotra, MD, PhD, Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454.

The "Cancer Prevention and Treatment Demonstration for Ethnic and Racial Minorities" evidence report offered recommendations for combining community health workers (CHWs) and new operational supports to improve the delivery of primary and secondary cancer prevention and treatment services to racial/ethnic group Medicare beneficiaries by providing three interventions: health risk management (HRM), screening adherence and detection facilitation (SADF) services, and treatment and follow-up facilitation (TAFF). In the Demonstration Design stage we needed to address the cultural tailoring of the demonstration standardized requirements and protocols, so that contractors could maximize participation and impacts on each of the specified racial/ethnic groups. Our goal was to explore how best to combine cutting-edge understanding of psychosocial and learning style tailoring with an appreciation for the unique historical, socio-economic, and community social capital features of each target population. We conducted an extensive review of the literature to identify models for cultural adaptation and tailoring of materials, and existing adapted measures and protocols. We paid particular attention to information on cultural tailoring with a special emphasis on older adults and focusing in the areas of health promotion and disease/cancer prevention. In addition, a series of memoranda/concept papers were developed by a group of experts in the area of cultural tailoring of health materials, protocols and interventions. Based on the findings of the literature review and expert opinions, we developed a protocol for culturally tailoring the intervention at contractors' sites to assist them in further adapting the demonstration protocols to the population they serve and the site characteristics.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify critical areas of cultural tailoring that go beyond simplified descriptive approaches of racial/ethnic groups.
• 2. Describe the importance of developing non-homogeneous cultural tailoring guidelines that consider and contemplate the complex and diverse aspects of the targeted racial/ethnic elders.
• 3. Discuss evidence that supports the efficacy of culturally tailored interventions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.